Program Overview

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease stage that results from a variety of causes of liver damage. Liver damage may induce secondary complications such as portal hypertension, esophageal variceal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). HE is a potentially reversible state of impaired cognitive function or altered consciousness in patients with acute or chronic liver disease or portosystemic shunting. At some point during the disease course, the majority of patients with cirrhosis will develop some degree of encephalopathy and up to 45% will experience an overt episode of HE. Episodes of overt HE are associated with persistent and cumulative deficits in working memory, response inhibition, and learning. More recent evidence suggests that overt HE in cirrhosis can lead to neurologic injury that is chronic, cumulative, and not always reversible.

This program will address the hospital-based clinicians’ need to enhance long-term management strategies and implement appropriate medical therapies and other supportive treatments as recommended by expert clinical faculty in hepatology, gastroenterology, and in-hospital care.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed for hospitalists involved in the management of patients with HE.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

Recognize HE to facilitate early and accurate diagnosis

Discuss timing of treatment and available options for patients with HE

Explain how to implement a long-term treatment plan that incorporates patient education and monitoring

Directions to Learner

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period May 16, 2016 through May 16, 2017, participants must:

Read the learning objective and faculty disclosures

Complete the pretest

Study the educational activity

Complete the posttest by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form

Complete the evaluation form

A statement of credit will be issued upon receipt of a posttest with a score of 70% or better. Your statement of credit will be sent to you within 4 weeks.

Media

Internet

Physician Accreditation Statement

Global Education Group is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest (COI)

Global Education Group requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals and their spouse/life partner who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The facultyreported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Amanda Glazer, PhD

Nothing to disclose

Andrea Funk

Nothing to disclose

Laura Gilsdorf

Nothing to disclose

Patima Tanapat, PhD

Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Global Education Group and Integrity CE do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Privacy Policy

When you participate in an online educational activity sponsored by Integrity CE, you will be asked for your name, degree(s), affiliation(s), street address, telephone number, fax number, and...(continued)

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.